The Israeli military released its findings on Sunday regarding the killings of 15 Palestinian medics in Gaza last month, stating that there were “several professional failures, breaches of orders, and a failure to fully report the incident.” The Israeli forces announced that a deputy commander would be fired.
Israel initially claimed that the medics’ vehicles did not have emergency lights turned on when troops opened fire, but later backtracked. The cellphone video recovered from one of the medics contradicted Israel’s initial account.
According to the military investigation, the deputy battalion commander concluded that the ambulances belonged to Hamas militants due to “poor night visibility.” The ambulances’ lights were flashing when video footage of the incident was captured.
Troops conducting operations in Tel al-Sultan, a district of Rafah in southern Gaza, killed eight Red Crescent personnel, six Civil Defense workers, and a United Nations staffer before dawn on March 23. Troops then bulldozed over the bodies and mangled vehicles, burying them in a mass grave. The United Nations and rescue workers were only able to reach the site a week later to recover the bodies.
According to the head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, the slain men were “targeted at close range.”
The Israeli military investigation stated that the Palestinians were killed as a result of a “operational misunderstanding” by Israeli forces, and that a separate incident 15 minutes later, when Israeli soldiers shot at a Palestinian U.N. vehicle, was a violation of orders.
“The findings show that the incident occurred in a hostile and dangerous combat zone, under a widespread threat to the operating troops,” according to the statement.
The investigation determined that the decision to crush the ambulances was incorrect, but denied that there was an attempt to conceal the event.
“The examination found no evidence to support claims of execution or that any of the deceased were bound before or after the shooting,” according to the statement.
The statement on the findings concluded that Israel’s military “regrets the harm caused to uninvolved civilians.” The one survivor was detained for investigation and is still in custody for further questioning.
The investigation’s findings have been turned over to the Military Advocate General, who will decide whether to file charges. It is intended to be an independent body, with oversight from Israel’s attorney general and Supreme Court.
There are no outside investigations into the killings underway.
Israel has accused Hamas of moving and concealing fighters inside ambulances, emergency vehicles, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure, claiming that this justifies airstrikes on them. Medical personnel have largely denied the accusations.
The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, the majority of whom were civilians, and abducting 251. The majority of the hostages have been released as part of ceasefires or other agreements. Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, with 24 believed to be alive.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, Israel’s offensive has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children. The ministry makes no distinction between civilians and combatants.